The baptism of a child: what does this need to know?

The baptism of a child is practiced today by many parents. For the Orthodox, the rite of baptism has a deep spiritual meaning. The rite of baptism is washed away from the child by sin before God and makes it pure in the face of the creator. If the child is baptized, he too can become godfather in the future. For him, you can put a candle and pray, asking God for health. Many believe that baptism protects the child from the evil eye and many troubles.

Where to baptize a baby?

You can bypass several temples and choose one that is closer to home or where you like more. The child's baptism can be held on any day after the morning prayer is held. Unlike the wedding, baptism can be held in large church holidays, and in fasting. It is advisable to talk with the priest in advance in order to buy everything necessary for baptism and learn how to prepare for it. We also need to stipulate the possibility of photo and video shooting during baptism.

It is necessary to take into account that. That during the baptism in the temple may be other people. If the child reacts badly to them. Perhaps it makes sense to baptize a child near the house in a small church. It is advisable to agree with the priest the date of baptism in advance.

What do you need to take with you for baptism?

You will need a cross for the child (you can buy it in advance in the same church). If the cross was bought not in the temple, but in a jewelry store, it must first be sanctified from the priest. In order not to damage the thin neck of the child, you need to hang the cross not on a gold or silver chain, but on a string. The dagger is not bought by the child's parents, but by his godfather.

For the baptism of a child, put on a clean white shirt, preferably linen or other natural materials. White clothing is an attribute that symbolizes the purification of the child in the face of God from sins.

You will also need a white sheet or towel. He is called a rat. In it, the child will be taken out of the font and wrapped. It is desirable that it was made of natural fabric. The godmother is buying a baby godmother. She also purchases a shirt for the baby and a white cap.

How to choose godparents for a baby?

Choosing godparents with her husband, pay attention: they must necessarily be baptized. There can be two godmothers, but there may be one. For a boy, this should be a godfather, and for a girl - a godfather. It should be highly moral people who could teach the child the sacraments of Christian beliefs, to the Christian foundations.

• People of other faiths or minors can not be godchildren.
• Previously, it was believed that the godparents need to choose such people who could become parents for the baby, if the real parents die prematurely.
• The godparents should not be a married couple.
• In the godparents one can not take a woman who has undergone less than 40 days from the moment of delivery.
• A pregnant woman can be godmother.

How to prepare for baptism?

The godparents should prepare for the rite of baptism in advance. They should confess and receive Communion before this ceremony, and also learn the prayer for baptism - "The Symbol of Faith". Three days before the baptism, the godparents should observe fasting, not eating meat, not foul language, and lead the right way of life if possible.

On the day of the child's baptism, the godfather can not eat breakfast in the morning, it is necessary to utter morning prayers. During the rite on the godparents and godson must necessarily be crosses. The godparent usually pays all the expenses that relate to the baptism of the child.

When can I baptize a child?

It is customary to baptize an infant on the 40th day after his birth. Then the mother can already be present in the church, and up to 40 days can not. Mom before the baptism comes to the priest, so that he reads a cleansing prayer over her.

At the baptism the parents of the child do not participate in the rite, but they can be present while in the church. When the child is baptized, the cross remains on it, it can (and preferably) not be removed. The child gets used to it and no discomfort.

How to dress in a church?

In order to comply with all church laws, a woman needs to dress so that the shoulders and elbows are covered, and the dress covers the knees. On the head should be a handkerchief. The tone of clothes should be muffled, no bright colors, no jewelry. Men should go to church with their heads uncovered.

When the rite of baptism is baptized only with the right hand, and the suppository can be placed either with the right or with the left hand. During the rite of baptism, men occupy the right half of the church, and women - the left part of it.

How is the rite of the baby baptized?

On the rite of baptism, the godparents with the baby arrive before the appointed time, in order to be in time to prepare. Then the godparents bring the child to the church. In this case, the girl is in the hands of the godfather, and the boy is at the cross. The child should be wrapped in a white diaper, if possible, clothes should not be worn, because the baby will be dipped into the font.

The priest places his hands on the baby, it is a symbol of the patronage of God. Then the godparents stand near the font, in the hands of one - a child, and the other holds candles. They read the "Symbol of Faith" prayer, which they must learn before that. By this, the godfathers renounce the Devil and sincerely promise to follow God's commandments. After the prayer, the holy father will sanctify the water, take the child in his arms and dip it into the font three times. At the same time he says the words: "The servant of God (name) is baptized in the name of the Father, Amen, and Son, Amen, and Holy Spirit, Amen."

In the font should be a fairly high water temperature - up to 37 degrees. That the kid did not catch a cold. Then the kid goes through anointing - he is smeared with eyes, forehead, ears, nose, mouth, chest, legs and pens in the form of a cross. In this case, the priest says: "The seal of the Holy Spirit, amen."

Then the child is taken away by the godparents (the boy is the godfather, and the girl is the godmother). The child is wiped and dressed in a white shirt, put a cross on it. Now the child is baptized, he is cleansed of sins in the eyes of God. Then the holy father cuts the hair of the child crosswise. It is a symbol of obedience to the Lord and gratitude to him for the beginning of a clean and righteous life. The words that the priest says at the same time: "The servant of God (or servant of God) (the name) is tonsured in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen." After that, the godmother sweeps the child around the font three times. This symbolizes the reunion of the baby with the holy church.

Then the boy is brought to the altar, and the girl is not. The girl is applied to the icon of the Mother of God, this ceremony is called churching.

Baptism of a child can take an average of an hour and a half. After baptism, the child will be an Orthodox Christian.